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With the widespread use of attribute networks, anomalous node detection on attribute networks has received increasing attention. By utilizing communities as reference contexts for local anomaly node detection, it is possible to uncover a multitude of significant anomalous nodes. However, most of the current methods that use communities as reference context of anomalous nodes usually do not consider the accuracy of the reference context. The rough classification results obtained from community detection are used as reference contexts for anomalous node detection. The possibility of errors occurring in the reference context may subsequently result in detection errors for anomalous nodes. Based on this, we propose an integrated framework named ADRC (Anomaly Detection in attribute networks based on Refining Context) to simultaneously perform anomalous node detection and detailed adjustment of reference contexts. Meanwhile, to better reflect the anomaly degree of the nodes, we design an evaluation metric and rank the anomalous nodes by it. Comparisons are made with state-of-the-art algorithms on publicly available datasets and the results show that our approach has significant advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cell death‐inducing DFF45‐like effector (CIDE) proteins, including Cidea, Cideb, and Cidec/Fsp27, regulate various aspects of lipid homeostasis, including lipid storage, lipolysis, and lipid secretion. This review focuses on the physiological roles of CIDE proteins based on studies on knockout mouse models and human patients bearing CIDE mutations. The primary cellular function of CIDE proteins is to localize to lipid droplets (LDs) and to control LD fusion and growth across different cell types. We propose a four‐step process of LD fusion, characterized by (a) the recruitment of CIDE proteins to the LD surface and CIDE movement, (b) the enrichment and condensate formation of CIDE proteins to form LD fusion plates at LD–LD contact sites, (c) lipid transfer through lipid‐permeable passageways within the fusion plates, and (d) the completion of LD fusion. Lastly, we outline CIDE‐interacting proteins as regulatory factors, as well as their contribution in LD fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated bone resorption and diminished bone formation have been recognized as the primary features of glucocorticoidassociated skeletal disorders. However, the direct effects of excess glucocorticoids on bone turnover remain unclear. Here, we explored the outcomes of exogenous glucocorticoid treatment on bone loss and delayed fracture healing in mice and found that reduced bone turnover was a dominant feature, resulting in a net loss of bone mass. The primary effect of glucocorticoids on osteogenic differentiation was not inhibitory; instead, they cooperated with macrophages to facilitate osteogenesis. Impaired local nutrient status -- notably, obstructed fatty acid transportation -- was a key factor contributing to glucocorticoid-induced impairment of bone turnover in vivo. Furthermore, fatty acid oxidation in macrophages fueled the ability of glucocorticoid-liganded receptors to enter the nucleus and then promoted the expression of BMP2, a key cytokine that facilitates osteogenesis. Metabolic reprogramming by localized fatty acid delivery partly rescued glucocorticoid-induced pathology by restoring a healthier immune-metabolic milieu. These data provide insights into the multifactorial metabolic mechanisms by which glucocorticoids generate skeletal disorders, thus suggesting possible therapeutic avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sliding base (SB) technique is an efficient and economical approach to mitigating seismic damage of low-rise buildings in rural areas. Based on the previous work on single-story SB structures, this study investigates the earthquake forces acting on multistory SB structures. Response history analyses of SB structures subjected to three-component earthquake excitations were performed. The computed results indicate that the increase in the number of stories tends to reduce the mean value of the peak base shear but has little influence on the coefficient of variation of the peak base shear. The peak story shears of a multistory SB structure subjected to an earthquake ground motion are reached at different time instants for different stories. The distributions of the equivalent lateral forces for SB structures with different story numbers follow the same trend, and the equivalent lateral forces tend to concentrate at the upper floors as the normalized peak ground acceleration and mass ratio increase. Simplified equations for computing the distribution of equivalent lateral forces were developed for design purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSoft skills have become a critical factor in enhancing individual employability. A deeper understanding of the specific soft skills valued by employers in various types of enterprises enables higher education institutions to more precisely cultivate these qualities in students. This study focuses on 15 essential soft skill indicators categorized into three key facets: personal, social, and methodological skills. Through the analysis of 366,077 job advertisements, we establish keyword libraries for different indicators, facilitating the identification of the types of soft skills emphasized in each advertisement. Our findings reveal that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) prioritize a range of soft skills, except for creativity/innovation skills, analytical skills, and continuous improvement skills. On the other hand, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) exhibit a demand for as many as 14 out of 15 soft skill indicators, surpassing private enterprises, except for creativity/innovation skills. However, this emphasis on different soft skills does not necessarily result in salary differentials. Soft skill requirements linked to personal traits, such as professional ethics, commitment to work, stress resistance, and self-learning abilities, do not correlate with higher salaries. Conversely, soft skills related to socialization, like teamwork, leadership, and social networking, are associated with higher salaries. The results of this study reveal employers’ demand for various soft skills. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that this demand is not adequately reflected in salary levels. Employers should carefully consider and strive for a more equitable representation of soft skills in the determination of salaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study illustrated the effectiveness of the knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) intervention model for community hypertension in the elderly by the community physician‐led, describing the study design and baseline data. The aim of the study was to compare the changes in the elderly hypertensive population before and after the KAP intervention model by managing the elderly hypertensive patients for a period of 1 year. Basic information and risk factors affecting blood pressure control based on baseline data of recruited elderly hypertensive patients. The management approach consists of two parts: (1) the unified management of the community physician to whom the patient belongs; and (2) the management of the contracted patient by the community physician. The aim was to demonstrate the anti‐hypertensive effectiveness (control rate, blood pressure reduction, and pulse pressure), the distribution of blood pressure types, and the change of the KAP in elderly hypertensive patients before and after the intervention. The KAP intervention model was administered to 2660 elderly hypertensive patients in a 1‐year period. The blood pressure control rate improved by 54.03%. Mean values of overall systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 16.00 and 5.31 mmHg, respectively. The proportion of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) and systolic‐diastolic hypertension (SDH) decreased by 29.14% and 24.81%, respectively. The KAP compliance improved significantly. These results suggest that the community physician‐led KAP intervention model is effective in the management of hypertension in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actin is a highly conserved cytoskeletal protein that is present in all eukaryotes. Polymerization of actin to filamentous actin is essential for numerous cellular processes. Abnormal actin dynamics are directly associated with a variety of diseases, including cancer, immunological and neurological disorders. However, the dynamics of actin are not fully understood. In this work, we study the effects of nucleotides and metal ions on conformation of F/G-actin using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our results show that different nucleotides and metal ions change the conformation of actin. The state of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) binding on F-actin conformation is more stable than G-actin. The D-loop has a large fluctuation when Ca 2 + binds to G-ATP-actin than Mg 2 + binds. Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) binding leads to a stronger residual correlation on F-actin conformation, while it is opposite on G-actin. In addition, the detailed interactions between nucleotides and adjacent residues are discussed on different states of actin. This work provides a structural basis for understanding how the different nucleotides/metal ions binding influences the conformation of actin. Actin is crucial for cellular processes through its polymerization. Abnormal actin dynamics are linked to diseases, including cancer. This study investigates how nucleotides and metal ions impact F/G-actin conformation, providing a structural basis for understanding their influence on actin dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic metamaterials possess characteristics such as having large-scale, periodic, multi-media, and complex geometric structures, making them highly suitable for simulation using the finite element domain decomposition method (DDM). This work proposes a non-conformal DDM for simulating finite-period metamaterials, achieving simulation with a minimal number of domains while significantly reducing computational resource consumption. First, the computational domain of the periodic metamaterial is partitioned into several non-conformal hexahedral subdomains. Subsequently, a limited number of non-repetitive subdomain models with non-matching grids are constructed, leveraging the three-dimensional rotational and translational properties of these subdomains to facilitate simulation. By eliminating the necessity to construct models for every subdomain, a substantial reduction in memory consumption is achieved. Second, an iteration method for solving the matrix equations of subdomains is enhanced by introducing a multifrontal block incomplete Cholesky decomposition preconditioner, thereby enhancing the computational efficiency of matrix equations with a large number of unknowns. Meanwhile, parallel computing techniques are employed to accelerate the proposed method. Finally, we integrate the aforementioned method into a solver and leverage it to develop an electromagnetic simulation tool tailored for metamaterials. The tool is employed to simulate metamaterial structures of varying scales, resulting in notable reductions in both memory and time consumption while maintaining accuracy comparable to commercial software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread dissemination of online rumors and their negative impact on society urgently require efficient rumor detection. Due to the lack of semantic information and strict syntatic structure in the text of the dataset, it is meaningful to combine user characteristics and contextual features to enrich semantic information. In this regard, MRUAMF is proposed. Firstly, four indicators including user information completeness, user activity, user communication span, and user platform authentication index are extracted to construct a quantitative calculation model for user authority. By cascading user authority and its constituent indicators, and using a two-layer fully connected network to fuse features, user characteristics are effectively quantified. Secondly, considering the effectiveness of context in understanding rumors, relevant contextual features are extracted. Finally, the BERT pre-training model is used to extract text features, which are then combined with the Multimodal Adaptation Gate (MAG) to fuse user features, contextual features, and text features. Experiments on the microblog dataset show that compared with the baseline model, the MRUAMF model has better detection performance with an accuracy rate of 0. 941. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen evolution reactions (OER) are often the decisive step in determining the water electrolysis rate. The first row of transition metals and their derivatives, represented by Ni and Fe, have attracted much attention due to their excellent OER performance. Here, we develop a one-step strategy for preparing oxygen-evolving electrodes, in which the NiFeOOH-modified NiFe layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) nanosheet is supported by nickel foam. At 100 mA·cm−2, the overpotential of NiFeOOH-NiFe-LDH was just 227 mV, and the duration times were over 200 h in 1 mol·L−1 KOH. Furthermore, the co-existence of LDH and hydroxyl oxides helps the oxygen evolution reaction. These results suggest the potential for this synthesis strategy to provide a low-cost, highly active OER electrocatalyst for industrial water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-coupled transition metal oxyhydroxide (TMOOH) on semiconductor (SC)-based photoanodes are effective strategies for improving photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. However, there is a substantial difference between the current density and theoretical value due to the inevitable interfacial charge recombination of SC/TMOOH. Here, we employ BiVO4/FeNiOOH as a model, constructing the BiVO4/MnOx/CoOx/FeNiOOH integrated system by introducing a novel hetero-interface regulation unit, i.e., MnOx/CoOx. As expected, the optimized integrated system demonstrates a photocurrent density as high as 5.0 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under 1 sun AM 1.5G illumination, accompanied by 12-h stability. The detailed electrochemical analysis and intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) have confirmed that the high PEC performance mainly originates from the hetero-interface structure, which not only suppresses the interfacial charge recombination by accelerating the photogenerated hole transfer kinetics from BiVO4 to FeNiOOH but promotes the kinetics of surface oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Notably, these findings can also be extended to other structures (CeOx/CoOx), reflecting its universality. This finding has provided a new insight into the highly efficient solar energy conversion in the SC/TMOOH system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The definition of textbook outcome in biliary system cancers is a developing concept in need of expansion and investigation of its association with survival and quality of life. Methods: In this original research, we developed a novel "all or none" textbook outcome definition which addresses the rapid recovery of post‐surgical indexes, in addition to short‐term mortality, hospital re‐admission, prolonged stay, surgical margin and postoperative complications. Based on the fulfillment of relevant criteria, patients were divided into textbook outcome and non‐textbook outcome groups and their characteristics and survival data were analyzed. A customized "quality of life" questionnaire was developed to address short‐term recovery and post‐discharge life quality of patients. Association with quality of life improvement was then investigated. Results: A total of 129 patients were included. Textbook outcome was achieved in 25.58% of patients (37.04% of gallbladder cancer patients and 17.8% of cholangiocarcinoma patients). Compared to non‐textbook outcome group, patients with textbook outcome had lower rate of pre‐operative biliary drainage (p = 0.026), higher rate of normal preoperative liver function (p < 0.001) and tumor markers (p = 0.001), reduced perioperative bleeding (p = 0.006) and blood transfusion (p = 0.005), and higher rate of N0 stage cases (p = 0.008). Textbook outcome was also associated with enhanced survival, significantly in older patients (<65 years) (1‐year survival rate: 100% vs. 78.57% (p = 0.108), 2‐year survival rate: 87.5% vs. 44% (p = 0.046)). Finally, textbook outcome was significantly associated with enhanced basic daily performance (p < 0.001), social life performance (p = 0.033), and personal evaluation (p < 0.001), and thus improved quality of life (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The novel definition of textbook outcome was able to address the specific nature of recovery after resection of biliary system cancers. Expanding the scope of textbook outcome and addressing the influence on survival and quality of life provides a comprehensive concept able to reflect physical, psychological and functioning enhancements in patients recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on transmission line theory, a 4‐way wideband coupled‐line Wilkinson power divider is designed by the authors, operating from 6 to 18 GHz. It is established by using a novel manufacturing technology with 3D stacked micro‐coaxial line, realising attractive advantages of low insertion (IL) loss and compact size. The simulated result shows that the proposed power divider of 23.5 × 14.46 × 0.9 mm obtains a maximum IL of 0.42 dB over the entire operating band. Measured results are obtained by connecting this micro‐coaxial power divider with printed circuit board, showing that the proposed structure is suitable for microwave communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current meta-analysis was performed to gather available evidence regarding the incidence and risk factors of cement leakage (CL) in patients undergoing surgical procedures for spinal metastasis. Two authors independently searched the PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL databases. Clinical studies reporting the incidence or risk factors of CL were included for analysis. The primary outcome analyzed was the incidence of various types of CL. Random-effects or fixed-effects single-proportion meta-analyses were conducted to pool the available evidence, based on the heterogeneity test. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on surgical procedures (percutaneous vertebroplasty, percutaneous kyphoplasty, and others). Risk factors of CL were synthesized narratively to identify the most commonly accepted factors. A total of 26 studies, involving 2551 patients, were included. The number of operated spine segments was reported in 23 studies, accounting for 4101 vertebrae. The pooled incidences of general, intradiscal, paravertebral, spinal canal, and intravascular CLs were 0.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11–0.28), 0.14 (95% CI, 0.08–0.21), 0.13 (95% CI, 0.06–0.21), 0.11 (95% CI, 0.05–0.19), and 0.12 (95% CI, 0.08–0.17), respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed significantly different incidences of general CL (0.37 vs. 0.06 vs. 0.09, P < 0.01), intradiscal CL (0.22 vs. 0.06 vs. 0.12, P < 0.01), paravertebral CL (0.25 vs. 0.03 vs. 0.06, P < 0.01), and vascular CL (0.14 vs. 0.03 vs. 0.15, P < 0.01) among the three groups. Posterior wall disruption, pathologic fracture, and the number of treated vertebral levels were the most commonly identified independent risk factors for general CL. Posterior wall disruption was determined as a common significant risk factor for spinal canal CL. This review provides insights into the incidence and risk factors associated with CL in surgical procedures for spinal metastasis. Understanding these risk factors can contribute to the development of tailored strategies aimed at minimizing CL occurrence and optimizing surgical outcomes for patients undergoing spinal metastatic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ureteral polyps are rare benign ureteral tumor. No guideline recommends that open or minimally invasive surgery is best for treating ureteral polyps. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the minimally invasive techniques currently available for treating ureteral polyps. Materials and Methods: We performed a comprehensive search of articles published in PubMed, using the keywords "ureteral" and "polyp," or "polyps." Results: A total of 275 studies were obtained from the literature search but 96 articles were excluded. Conclusions: Several minimally invasive approaches were developed with the advancement of medical technology, including endoscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches; however, the best surgical technique was yet to be decided. Due to the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches, the best surgical approach should be tailored to each patient's needs and the surgeon's preferences and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMC) are low-temperature particle detectors based on calorimetry. They typically operate at temperatures below 100 mK. They utilize a metallic paramagnetic temperature sensor to convert the temperature rise of an absorber, during the absorption of energetic particles, into a change in magnetic flux sensed by a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Since the SQUID has a high sensitivity to magnetic signals, the MMC system is very sensitive to external magnetic field interference. The magnetic shielding effect of the MMC directly affects its detection capability. Therefore, the design of the MMC magnetic shield system is particularly important. In this study, a set of MMC magnetic shields is designed based on the principle of magnetic shielding. The design is optimized using the COMSOL magnetic field simulation module by varying relevant parameters, such as the thickness and height of the shields as well as the diameter of the radioactive source hole, which determines the magnetic shielding effect. Through the simulation, the optimized magnetic shielding device can reduce the magnetic field interference of 2–0.0264 nT. The value can be further reduced by one order of magnitude if a high-permeability material with superior performance is used. This research is instructive for the design of MMC magnetic shielding devices in subsequent experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze the correlation among the imaging features of prostate "nodule in nodule," clinical prostate indices, and pathology results. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the prostate images from 47 male patients who underwent MRI scans and pathological biopsy from January 2022 to July 2023. Two radiologists (R1/R2) evaluated the morphology and signal intensity of the "nodule in nodule" in a double-blind manner and calculated the PI-RADS v2.1 score, which was compared with clinical prostate indices and pathological results. Results: 34.04% (16/47) of patients were pathologically diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), free/t PSA, PSA density (PSAD), and prostate gland volume (PGV) were significantly different between csPCa patients and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients with prostate "nodule in nodule". R1/R2 detected 17/17 prostate "nodule in nodule" pathologically confirmed as csPCa on MRI; 10.60% (16/151) (R1) and 11.11% (17/153) (R2) had diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) PI-RADS v2.1 score of 4, and 0.66% (1/151) (R1) had a score of 3. The percentages of encapsulated, circumscribed, and atypical nodules and obscured margins were 0.00% (0/151), 0.00% (0/151), 5.96% (9/151), and 5.30% (8/151), respectively, for R1, and 0.00% (0/153), 0.00% (0/153), 5.88% (9/153), and 4.58% (7/153) for R2. Conclusion: When the inner nodules of "nodule in nodule" lesions in PI-RADS v2.1 category 1 in the TZ show incomplete capsulation or obscured margins, they are considered atypical nodules and might be upgraded to PI-RADS v2.1 category 3 if they exhibit marked diffusion restriction. However, further validation is needed. Critical relevance statement: This study first analyzed the relationship between clinical and pathological findings and the size, margin, and multimodal MRI manifestations of the prostate "nodule in nodule." These findings could improve the diagnostic accuracy of PI-RADS v2.1 for prostate lesions. Key points: • The margin of the prostate inner nodules affects the PI-RADS v2.1 score. • The morphology of prostate "nodule in nodule" is related to their pathology. • The PI-RADS v2.1 principle requires consideration of prostate "nodule in nodule" variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusions Risk factors for temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain remain unclear.This study aimed to identify risk factors for TMD pain using a biopsychosocial model and to investigate interactions between potential risk factors—oral behaviours (OBs), psychological factors and sleep quality—and their direct and indirect effects on TMD pain.This was a cross‐sectional study of 488 patients with TMDs (422 women; 30.8 ± 9.4 years). Pain was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale. Demographic, behavioural, psychological and biomedical data were collected through clinical examination, face‐to‐face interviews and questionnaires. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with TMD pain. Mediation and moderation analysis were used to evaluate interactions between variables. Significant mediation (‘0’ not included in the 95% confidence interval (CI)) and moderation (p < .05) effects on TMD pain were identified.Marital status, diagnosis subgroup, previous medication use, depression and sleep quality were significant risk factors for TMD pain (p < .05). Significant mediation effects were observed as follows: depression and sleep quality mediated the association between OBs and pain; sleep quality mediated the association between somatization, depression, anxiety and pain; and depression mediated the association between sleep quality and pain (all 95% CI did not contain ‘0’).(1) Marital status, diagnosis subgroup, previous medication use, depression and sleep quality were associated with TMD pain. (2) OBs can exacerbate pain by promoting depression and reducing sleep quality. Psychological factors and sleep quality can interact to exacerbate pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the attitude control of hypersonic vehicles, a control scheme based on linear active disturbance rejection (LADRC) and modified deep deterministic policy gradient (MDDPG) is proposed. Firstly, LADRC is used to deal with uncertainty and nonlinear problems in the attitude control process. For the tedious manual parameter tuning process, MDDPG is used to optimize the control gains and bandwidth of LADRC. Secondly, a modified reward function and an early stop criterion are introduced in the MDDPG algorithm to improve the optimization performance. Then, another MDDPG is used as an auxiliary control, which is combined with LADRC for attitude control to improve the robustness and accuracy of the control. The proposed method considers the robustness and rapidity of the control. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is proved by simulation. Compared with traditional LADRC, LADRC based on the Q-learning algorithm, LADRC based on the traditional DDPG algorithm, and LADRC based on MDDPG algorithm, the proposed method has a better control effect and can avoid a lot of manual parameter tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite substantial efforts to investigate the inequalities in mental health among people with marginalized identities, most research has concentrated on single social identities rather than complete persons. The current study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the intersectionality of multiple social identities with depression among US adults. Data for this study came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey waves between 2015 and 2018, including a total of 11,268 US adults. A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify latent subpopulations based on sex, race/ethnicity, immigrant status, disability, household income, employment status, and education level. Interclass differences in lifestyle factors and depression were examined. Multiple mediation analysis was used to examine the mediating roles of lifestyle behaviors. LCA identified four potential subpopulations: "least marginalized", "immigrant minorities", "disabled, less-educated non-workers", and "low-income minorities" groups. There was enormous heterogeneity in mental health among immigrant minority individuals. The "disabled, less-educated non-workers" group had the highest rates of depression; in contrast, the "immigrant minorities" group had the best mental health, even better than that of the "least marginalized" group. Distributions of lifestyle factors followed a similar pattern. In addition, lifestyle behaviors significantly mediated the relationship between intersectional social identities and depression. The cross-sectional design prevented establishment of the causality of relationships. This study suggests that applying a person-centered approach is important when examining intersectional inequalities in mental health and highlights the effects of structural social hierarchies on individuals' health behaviors and mental health. • The intersectionality of social identities among US adults presented four latent subpopulations. • Depression and lifestyle varied across four latent subpopulations. • Structural social hierarchies shape individuals' health behaviors and mental health. • Lifestyle behaviors significantly mediated the relationship between intersectional social identities and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing research has examined the factors related to smartphone use disorder. However, limited research has explored its neural basis. Aims: We aimed to examine the relationship between the topology of the resting-state electroencephalography (rs-EEG) brain network and smartphone use disorder using minimum spanning tree analysis. Furthermore, we examined how negative emotions mediate this relationship. Methods: This study included 113 young, healthy adults (mean age 5 20.87 years, 46.9% males). Results: The results showed that the alpha- and delta-band kappas and delta-band leaf fraction were positively correlated with smartphone use disorder. In contrast, the alpha-band diameter was negatively correlated with smartphone use disorder. Negative emotions fully mediated the relationship between alpha-band kappa and alpha-band diameter and smartphone use disorder. Furthermore, negative emotions partially mediated the relationship between delta-band kappa and smartphone use disorder. The findings suggest that excessive scale-free alpha- and delta-band brain networks contribute to the emergence of smartphone use disorder. In addition, the findings also demonstrate that negative emotions and smartphone use disorder share the same neural basis. Negative emotions play a mediating role in the association between topological deviations and smartphone use disorder. Discussion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the neural basis of smartphone use disorder from the perspective of the topology of the rs-EEG brain network. Therefore, neuromodulation may be a potential intervention for smartphone use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the relationship between stress resistance, symptom interference, and cancer-related fatigue in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Methods A total of 336 cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from October 2020 to October 2021 were selected by convenient sampling. The related data were collected by general condition questionnaire, cancer fatigue scale (CFS), Chinese version memory symptom assessment scale (MSAS-Ch), and stress resistance scale (CD-RICS). Results The scores of cancer-related fatigues, stress resistance, and symptom disturbance were 30.55 ±8.26, 62.14 ±14.04, and 1.11 ± 0.38, respectively. The level of stress resistance played an intermediary role in symptom interference and cancer-related fatigue, accounting for 26.26% of the total effect. The level of stress resistance had a regulatory effect between symptom interference and cancer-related fatigue (3 = 0.102, AR2=0.382, P < 0.05). Conclusion The level of stress resistance plays a mediating effect and regulation between symptom interference and cancer-related fatigue. Encouraging patients to strengthen the level of stress resistance, strengthen positive psychological construction, and weaken the level of symptom interference is helpful to reduce cancer-related fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Without timely and effective interventions or treatments, radiation-induced liver damage (RILD) can lead to serious consequences for the patients and their families. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia preconditioning (IHHP) in RILD. METHODS: Male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 8 groups including one control group, one only irradiation group and other experimental groups. Blood routine tests and liver function tests were all assessed with abdominal venous blood. Moreover, hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry assay were used to detect the histopathological changes and expressions of transforming growth factor- β 1 (TGF- β 1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF- α) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1 α) in radiated liver sections. RESULTS: Blood routing tests showed that RBC, WBC and Hb were all significantly increased while the differences of these results between different groups with same simulated altitude were approximate. However, liver function in the IHHP plus irradiation at 4000 m group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared to only irradiation groups, and the manifestation of HE and lower positive expression of TNF- α showed improved histopathological changes in the liver section. Furthermore, no significant difference of HIF-1 α expression between any two groups treated with IHHP was observed. CONCLUSION: IHHP at the altitude of 4000 m group could alleviate the radioactive liver damage by downregulating TNF- α and less strong positive expression of TGF- β 1. Furthermore, patients exposed to radiation might benefit from this treatment to prevent or reduce the RILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable chromium isotope system has been widely used as a redox proxy to reconstruct the oxygenation history of ocean atmosphere systems. However, the Cr isotope mass balance in modern oceans (i.e., inputs and outputs) remains poorly constrained. To investigate the influence of seawater‐peridotite reaction on the global marine Cr isotope mass balance, we report high‐precision Cr isotope data (δ53Cr) on a series of fresh and altered abyssal peridotites from the Gakkel Ridge and the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). The least altered peridotites give a δ53Cr value of −0.08 ± 0.06‰ (2SD, n = 4) for the oceanic mantle which is consistent with the established δ53Cr of the Bulk Silicate Earth. Compared to fresh peridotites, a subset of altered peridotites exhibit a loss of isotopically light Cr with relatively positive δ53Cr values (up to 0.04‰). These altered peridotites are characterized by significant Cr loss and likely have been subject to serpentinization. By contrast, seafloor weathering has limited influence on the Cr concentrations and isotopic compositions of the altered peridotites. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of marine alteration suggest a net Cr flux into seawater from altered abyssal peridotites of ∼3.5 × 108 mol/yr, which is on the same order of magnitude as the riverine input flux of 108–109 mol/yr. Furthermore, the MC results suggest that the peridotite‐sourced net Cr flux has a negative δ53Cr signature (−0.33 ± 0.21‰, 2SD). Thus, seawater‐peridotite interactions must be considered when evaluating the modern oceanic Cr isotope mass balance. Plain Language Summary: The stable chromium isotope system is an emerging paleoredox proxy for tracing Earth's atmospheric oxygenation over geological timescales. However, accurately inferring past Earth's atmospheric oxygenation levels using chromium isotopes requires a more precise understanding of the elemental and isotopic cycling of chromium, particularly within the oceans. By studying abyssal peridotites which are rocks found beneath the oceanic crust, we find that specific types of alterations in these rocks, particularly the process of serpentinization, have an impact on the chromium isotopes. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms involved in transporting chromium from the deep Earth mantle to the oceans. We discover that these altered rocks release a flux of isotopically light chromium into the ocean, which is comparable to the amount coming from rivers. Our study sheds new light on the complex interactions between seawater and abyssal peridotites, which potentially exert a profound impact on the global marine Cr isotope mass balance. Key Points: The first data set of stable Cr isotopic compositions for abyssal peridotitesSeafloor weathering has insignificant impact on the Cr isotopic compositions of abyssal peridotitesSeafloor alteration exerts a key control on the Cr isotopic composition of seawater [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional point prediction methods encounter challenges in accurately capturing the inherent uncertainty associated with photovoltaic power due to its stochastic and volatile nature. To address this challenge, we developed a robust prediction model called QRKDDN (quantile regression and kernel density estimation deep learning network) by leveraging historical meteorological data in conjunction with photovoltaic power data. Our aim is to enhance the accuracy of deterministic predictions, interval predictions, and probabilistic predictions by incorporating quantile regression (QR) and kernel density estimation (KDE) techniques. The proposed method utilizes the Pearson correlation coefficient for selecting relevant meteorological factors, employs a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) for clustering similar days, and constructs a deep learning prediction model based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) combined with a bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) and attention mechanism. The experimental results obtained using the dataset from the Australian DKASC Research Centre unequivocally demonstrate the exceptional performance of QRKDDN in deterministic, interval, and probabilistic predictions for photovoltaic (PV) power generation. The effectiveness of QRKDDN was further validated through ablation experiments and comparisons with classical machine learning models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the impacts of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) GNAS antisense RNA1 (GNAS-AS1) on the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer ( GC) cells by regulating the miR-449a/ Notch1 axis. Method Tumor tissue and adjacent tissue samples were collected from 30 patients diagnosed with GC at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from September 2013 to September 2017; GC cells AGS were randomly divided into Control group, si-NC group, si-GNAS-AS1 group, si-GNAS-AS1+inhibitor NC group, and si-GNAS-AS1+miR-449a inhibitor group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method was applied to detect the expression of GNAS-AS1, miR-449a, and Notch1 mRNA; MTT experiments and plate cloning experiments were applied to detect the proliferation ; wound healing test was applied to detect cell migration ; Transwell experiment was applied to detect cell invasion. Western Blot was applied to detect the expression of Notch1, E-cadherin, Vimentin, and N-cadherin proteins. Double Luciferase reporter gene experiment was applied to verify the relationship between GNAS-AS1 and miR-449a, between miR-449a and Notch1, respectively. Results Compared with adjacent tissues, the expression of GNAS-AS1 and Notch1 mRNA in tumor tissue was increased, the expression of miR-449a was reduced (P < 0.05). Compared with the Control group and si-NC group, the expression of GNAS-AS1, OD490 value, number of clones formed, scratch healing rate, number of cell invasions, and the expression of Notch1, Vimentin, and N-cadherin proteins in AGS cells in the si-GNAS-AS1 group reduced, the expression of miR-449a and E-cadherin protein increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the si-GNAS-ASl group and the si-GNAS-ASl+inhibitor NC group, the OD490 value, scratch healing rate, number of cell invasions, Notch1, Vimentin, and N-cadherin expression in the si-GNAS-AS1+miR-449a inhibitor group increased, the expression of miR-449a and E-cadherin protein reduced (P < 0.05). GNAS-AS1 targeted and negatively regulated miR-449a expression, while miR-449a targeted and negatively regulated Notch1 expression. Conclusion Silencing GNAS-AS1 may inhibit the expression of Notchl protein by up-regulating miR-449a, thereby inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and invasion processes of GC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sex is an important factor in the progression and treatment of alcohol addiction, and therapeutic approaches may have to be tailored to potential sex differences. This highlights the importance of understanding sex differences in behaviors that reflect key elements of clinical alcohol addiction, such as continued use despite negative consequences ("compulsive use"). Studies in experimental animals can help provide an understanding of the role sex plays to influence these behaviors. Methods: Large populations of genetically heterogeneous male and female Wistar rats were tested in an established model of compulsive alcohol self-administration, operationalized as alcohol responding despite contingent foot shock punishment. We also tested baseline (fixed ratio, unpunished) operant alcohol self-administration, motivation to self-administer alcohol (progressive ratio), and temporal discounting for alcohol reward. In search of predictors of compulsivity, animals were screened for novelty-induced place preference, anxiety-like behavior, pain sensitivity and corticosterone levels. The estrous cycle was monitored throughout the study. Results: Unpunished self-administration of alcohol did not differ between males and females when alcohol intake was corrected for body weight. Overall, females showed higher levels of compulsive responding for alcohol. Compulsive response rates showed bimodal distributions in male but not in female rats when intermediate shock intensities were used (0.2 and 0.25 mA); at higher shock intensities, responding was uniformly suppressed in both males and females. We also found less steep discounting in females when alcohol was devalued by delaying its delivery. Males exhibited a stronger motivation to obtain alcohol under unpunished conditions, while females showed higher corticosterone levels at baseline. Factor analysis showed that an underlying dimension related to stress and pain predicted compulsivity in females, while compulsivity in males was predicted by a reward factor. We did not find differences in alcohol-related behaviors throughout the various stages of the estrous cycle. Conclusions: Our results suggest that mechanisms promoting compulsivity, a key feature of alcohol addiction, likely differ between males and females. This underscores the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in both preclinical and clinical research, and has potential treatment implications in alcohol addiction. Plain language summary: Sex plays an important role in the progression and treatment of alcohol addiction. While men show a higher prevalence of alcohol addiction, women are more susceptible to the adverse effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, women often rely on heavy drinking as a maladaptive coping mechanism to alleviate stress and anxiety, driven by negative affect. On the other hand, men are more likely to report heavy drinking and relapse in response to positive emotions and social influences. These sex-based differences underline the importance of understanding how vulnerability to alcohol addiction and its treatment varies in males and females. We used genetically heterogeneous rats to explore the behavioral traits that contribute to compulsivity, a key clinical feature of alcohol addiction. We found that motivation to self-administer alcohol was higher in males, while females showed higher compulsive alcohol self-administration. In males, motivation to self-administer alcohol showed a significant correlation with compulsivity, while in females compulsivity was predicted by higher basal corticosterone levels. These findings underlie the importance of sex-specific factors in compulsive alcohol self-administration, with potential prevention and treatment implications in alcohol addiction. Highlights: Male rats showed a higher motivation to obtain alcohol. Females showed higher levels of compulsive responding for alcohol and a less steep discounting when alcohol was devalued by delaying its delivery. In males compulsivity was predicted by a reward factor, while in females by stress-pain factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, a wideband cavity‐backed filtering antenna based on 3‐D printing technology is proposed for millimeter wave applications. This antenna is made up of an air‐filled metal cavity, attached with two transverse slots on its upper surface. By exciting one TE110 cavity mode and two slot modes simultaneously, wideband performance can be obtained. Besides, by properly bending one slot into U‐shape, two radiation nulls appear at two sides of the passband, yet causing the increase of the cross‐polarization in H‐plane. To remedy this, the U‐shaped slot is further bent at its ends, successfully suppressing the cross‐polarization by 7 dB. The final proposed filtering antenna is implemented and measured, showing a wide bandwidth of 37.3%, covering from 21.4 to 31.2 GHz. And the measured maximum gain is 6.6 dBi in band, with two radiation nulls at 14.6 and 40 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes dengue fever, the most prevalent arthropod-transmitted viral disease worldwide. Viruses are acellular parasites and obligately rely on host cell machinery for reproduction. Previous studies have indicated metabolomic changes in endothelial cell models and sera of animal models and patients with dengue fever. To probe the immunometabolic mechanism of DENV infection, here, we report the metabolomic landscape of a human macrophage cell model of DENV infection and its antibody-dependent enhancement. DENV infection of THP-1-derived macrophages caused 202 metabolic variants, of which amino acids occupied 23.7%, fatty acids 21.78%, carbohydrates 10.4%, organic acids 13.37%, and carnitines 10.4%. These metabolomic changes indicated an overall anabolic signature, which was characterized by the global exhaustion of amino acids, increases of cellular fatty acids, carbohydrates and pentoses, but decreases of acylcarnitine. Significant activation of metabolic pathways of glycolysis, pentose phosphate, amino acid metabolism, and tricarboxylic acid cycle collectively support the overall anabolism to meet metabolic demands of DENV replication and immune activation by viral infection. Totally 88 of 202 metabolic variants were significantly changed by DENV infection, 36 of which met the statistical standard (P<0.05, VIP>1.5) of differentially expressed metabolites, which were the predominantly decreased variants of acylcarnitine and the increased variants of fatty acids and carbohydrates. Remarkably, 11 differentially expressed metabolites were significantly distinct between DENV only infection and antibody-dependent enhancement of viral infection. Our data suggested that the anabolic activation by DENV infection integrates the viral replication and anti-viral immune activation. Author summary: Dengue fever, a widespread viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, is caused by the dengue virus (DENV). In our study, we explored how DENV infection affects human macrophages, crucial immune cells in our body. By analyzing the metabolic changes within these cells during DENV infection and its antibody-dependent enhancement, we uncovered a metabolic landscape characterized by significant alterations. Our findings revealed a shift towards utilization of amino acids and increased production of carbohydrates and fatty acids, indicating an overall boost in cellular activity—a signature response to the virus's replication demands and immune system activation triggered by the infection. Specifically, we identified 88 metabolic changes induced by DENV, with 36 showing notable statistical significance, highlighting decreased acylcarnitine and increased fatty acids and carbohydrates as prominent alterations. Importantly, our study identified 11 distinct metabolites significantly different between DENV infection alone and its enhancement by antibodies. These results strongly suggest that the virus not only facilitates its replication but also orchestrates anabolic processes that integrate viral growth with the host immune responses. Understanding these metabolic dynamics during DENV infection could offer valuable insights for potential therapeutic interventions in combating this prevalent and impactful disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White matter diseases are commonly associated with microglial activation and neuroinflammation. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties and thus have the potential to be developed as cell therapy for white matter disease. MSCs interact with resident macrophages to alter the trajectory of inflammation; however, the impact MSCs have on central nervous system macrophages and the effect this has on the progression of white matter disease are unclear. In this study, we utilized numerous assays of varying complexity to model different aspects of white matter disease. These assays ranged from an in vivo spinal cord acute demyelination model to a simple microglial cell line activation assay. Our goal was to investigate the influence of human umbilical cord tissue MSCs on the activation of microglia. MSCs reduced the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by microglia and decreased demyelinated lesions in the spinal cord after acute focal injury. To determine if MSCs could directly suppress the activation of microglia and to develop an efficient potency assay, we utilized isolated primary microglia from mouse brains and the Immortalized MicroGlial Cell Line (IMG). MSCs suppressed the activation of microglia and the release of TNF after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, a toll-like receptor agonist. In this study, we demonstrated that MSCs altered the immune response after acute injury in the spinal cord. In numerous assays, MSCs suppressed activation of microglia and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF. Of these assays, IMG could be standardized and used as an effective potency assay to determine the efficacy of MSCs for treating white matter disease or other neuroinflammatory conditions associated with microglial activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With more infrastructures being built in high-altitude regions, the impact of low atmospheric pressure on the stability of air bubbles in cementitious materials has aroused extensive attention. However, its influence is still inconclusive since it is difficult to isolate the factor of air pressure and study it. To solve this problem, the study investigated the bubble dynamic evolution in cement paste at standard atmospheric pressure (P = 0.1 MPa) and low atmospheric pressure (LAP = 0.8P, 0.6P, 0.4P, 0.2P) and revealed the mechanism of bubble instability under low atmospheric pressure. We established the bubble dynamic evolution equation in cement paste, computed the real-time bubble radius, resultant force, and critical time at different air pressure by MATLAB software. Results show that the maximum resultant force decreases by 50.0–57.7% when air pressure drops from P to 0.2P; both critical time (t ) and radius increment ( Δ R ) increase with the reduction of air pressure and the increase of initial radius. It indicates that when at 0.2P, the resultant force which inhibits bubble expansion is reduced, the time required to prevent bubble expansion increases by 94–137%, and Δ R grows 122–140% larger than that at P, and the bubble is more prone to instability and rupture than that at P. The key to improving bubble stability in low atmospheric pressure is to reduce the initial radius of bubbles and increase the strength of the bubble film. This work firstly discovered the impact of low atmospheric pressure on bubble dynamic evolution in cement paste and proposed a new perspective to explore bubble stability at low atmospheric pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytohormone cytokinin has various roles in plant development, including meristem maintenance, vascular differentiation, leaf senescence, and regeneration. Prior investigations have revealed that cytokinin acts via a phosphorelay similar to the two-component system by which bacteria sense and respond to external stimuli. The eventual targets of this phosphorelay are type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS (B-ARRs), containing the conserved N-terminal receiver domain (RD), middle DNA binding domain (DBD), and C-terminal transactivation domain. While it has been established for two decades that the phosphoryl transfer from a specific histidyl residue in ARABIDOPSIS HIS PHOSPHOTRANSFER PROTEINS (AHPs) to an aspartyl residue in the RD of B-ARRs results in a rapid transcriptional response to cytokinin, the underlying molecular basis remains unclear. In this work, we determine the crystal structures of the RD-DBD of ARR1 (ARR1RD-DBD) as well as the ARR1DBD-DNA complex from Arabidopsis. Analyses of the ARR1DBD-DNA complex have revealed the structural basis for sequence-specific recognition of the GAT trinucleotide by ARR1. In particular, comparing the ARR1RD-DBD and ARR1DBD-DNA structures reveals that unphosphorylated ARR1RD-DBD exists in a closed conformation with extensive contacts between the RD and DBD. In vitro and vivo functional assays have further suggested that phosphorylation of the RD weakens its interaction with DBD, subsequently permits the DNA binding capacity of DBD, and promotes the transcriptional activity of ARR1. Our findings thus provide mechanistic insights into phosphorelay activation of gene transcription in response to cytokinin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low quantum yields (QY) of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) not only limit their sensitivity as sensors, but also hinder their application in fluorescent anti-counterfeiting materials. To develop highly fluorescent CQDs, several factors, like a large conjugated double bond system, a rigid plane structure and electron-donating substituent group incorporation on the aromatic ring need to be considered. With this in mind, herein, highly fluorescent nitrogen-doped CQDs (N-CQDs) were successfully fabricated by a solvothermal method using ammonia, citric acid and phloroglucinol as precursors. The sensing platform based on the obtained N-CQDs was constructed to determine Fe3+ and ascorbic acid (AA) via the "on–off–on" fluorescence principle. The fluorescence of the N-CQDs was effectively quenched upon addition of Fe3+, and then, restored by AA. The detection limits for Fe3+ and AA were determined to be 0.28 μM and 0.81 μM within the respective ranges of 1–10 μM and 30–90 μM. It is worth noting that the proposed strategy was successfully applied to monitor AA in fruit samples with satisfactory results. In addition, we successfully applied N-CQDs to information anti-counterfeiting and molecular logic gate operations, which confirmed their great potential application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate associations between frailty and outcomes in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) undergoing hepatic lobectomy using a large, nationally representative sample. Methods: This population-based, retrospective observational study extracted the data of adults ≥20 years old with ICC undergoing hepatic lobectomy from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample database between 2005 and 2018. Frailty was assessed by the validated Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). Associations between frailty and surgical outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. Results: After exclusions, 777 patients were enrolled, including 427 frail and 350 non-frail. Patients' mean age was 64.5 (±0.4) years and the majority were males (51.1%) and whites (76.5%). Frailty was significantly associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR: 18.51, 95% CI: 6.70, 51.18), non-home discharge (aOR: 3.58, 95% CI: 2.26, 5.66), prolonged LOS (aOR: 5.56, 95% CI: 3.87, 7.99), perioperative cardiac arrest/stroke (aOR: 5.44, 95% CI: 1.62, 18.24), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/respiratory failure (aOR: 3.88, 95% CI: 2.40, 6.28), tracheostomy/ventilation (aOR: 3.83, 95% CI: 2.23, 6.58), bleeding/transfusion (aOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.26), acute kidney injury (AKI) (aOR: 14.37, 95% CI: 7.13, 28.99), postoperative shock (aOR: 4.44, 95% CI: 2.54, 7.74), and sepsis (aOR: 11.94, 95% CI: 6.90, 20.67). Discussion/Conclusion: Among patients with ICC undergoing hepatic lobectomy, HFRS-defined frailty is a strong predictor of worse in-patient outcomes, including in-hospital death, prolonged LOS, unfavorable discharge, and complications (perioperative cardiac arrest/stroke, ARDS/respiratory failure, tracheostomy/ventilation, bleeding/transfusion, AKI, postoperative shock, and sepsis). Study results may help stratify risk in frail patients undergoing hepatic resection for ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) polymetallic nodules are significant marine mineral resources containing various metal elements of substantial economic and scientific research value. Previous studies have primarily focused on the mineralogy and geochemistry of the nodules, while research on their nano-mineralogy is still lacking. In this study, we conducted scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) porous structure gas adsorption/desorption, and specific surface area analysis to examine the nano-mineralogy and mineralization of the polymetallic nodules from the interbasin of seamounts in the western Pacific Ocean (IBSWP). The results indicate that the growth profiles of the IBSWP polymetallic nodules exhibit microstructural features such as laminated, stromatolithic, columnar, and mottled structures. The mineral compositions are primarily composed of Fe-Mn minerals and detritus, including quartz; minerals from the feldspar group; and minerals from the clay group. The Fe-Mn phase minerals are relatively poorly crystallized. The Mn-phase minerals contain vernadite and small amounts of todorokite, buserite, and birnessite, while the Fe-phase minerals are mainly comprised of amorphous FeOOH. The main ore-forming minerals consist of nano-minerals, and the nanostructures of the polymetallic nodules endow them with unusually large specific surface areas and pore volumes, resulting in strong adsorption properties. The unique nano-properties and surface/interface adsorption effects of Fe-Mn minerals play a crucial role in controlling the enrichment of ore-forming elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the experiment was to explore the effect of fermented coconut residue feed on the growth performance and slaughter performance of Wenchang chickens. A total of 10 200 fifty-day-old Wenchang chickens with initial weight of (680±25) g were randomly divided into two groups, with 34 replicates per group and 150 chickens per replicate. The Wenchang chickens in control group were fed a basal diet, and Wenchang chickens in experimental group were fed a basal diet supplemented with fermented coconut residue. The experimental period was 60 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the final weight and average daily gain of the experimental group were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the feed to gain ratio was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The mortality rate of the experimental group showed a decreasing trend (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in slaughter performance of Wenchang chickens in the experimental group (P>0.05). The study indicates that adding fermented coconut residue feed can improve the growth performance of Wenchang chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the central component of the traveling wave tube (TWT), the thermal deformation of the electron gun is a critical concern. This paper presents a method for analyzing the electromagnetic characteristics of electron gun after thermal deformation. The method adopts multiple grid acceleration technology. Based on this method, a three-dimensional thermal stress analysis tool called the Thermal Stress Simulator (TSS) is developed. In addition, the TSS can be seamlessly coupled with the Thermal Simulator (TS) and the Electron Optical Simulator (EOS) previously developed by our team to realize the analysis of electromagnetic characteristics changes after thermal deformation and provide support for the reliable design of TWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic engineering of filamentous fungi has received increasing attention in recent years, especially in the context of creating better industrial fungal cell factories to produce a wide range of valuable enzymes and metabolites from plant biomass. Recent studies into the pentose catabolic pathway (PCP) in Aspergillus niger have revealed functional redundancy in most of the pathway steps. In this study, a closer examination of the A. niger genome revealed five additional paralogs for the three original pentose reductases (LarA, XyrA, XyrB). Analysis of these genes using phylogeny, in vitro and in vivo functional analysis of the enzymes, and gene expression revealed that all can functionally replace LarA, XyrA, and XyrB. However, they are also active on several other sugars, suggesting a role for them in other pathways. This study therefore reveals the diversity of primary carbon metabolism in fungi, suggesting an intricate evolutionary process that distinguishes different species. In addition, through this study, the metabolic toolkit for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering of A. niger and other fungal cell factories has been expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is typically associated with a prothrombotic state of the blood, with its causative factors varying widely. Prior research has not reported the simultaneous occurrence of CVST and dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) as potentially resulting from genetic mutations. In this case report, we introduce a unique occurrence wherein a patient with a heterozygous mutation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene presented with CVST in conjunction with DAVFs. Case: Presentation: A male patient, aged 51, sought treatment at our facility due to a consistent decline in cognitive functions accompanied by recurrent headaches. Comprehensive evaluations were administered, including neurological examinations, laboratory tests, magnetic resonance imaging, digital subtraction angiography, and whole exome sequencing. Digital subtraction angiography identified DAVFs in the patient's right sigmoid sinus and an occlusion within the left transverse sinus. The whole exome sequencing of blood samples pinpointed a heterozygous mutation in the LDLR gene (NM_000527:exon12:c.C1747T:p.H583Y). Following the confirmed diagnosis of CVST and DAVFs, the patient underwent anticoagulant therapy combined with endovascular procedures — these comprised embolization of the arteriovenous fistula in the right sigmoid sinus and balloon dilation with stent implantation in the left transverse sinus. A six-month follow-up indicated a significant abatement in the patient's symptoms. Conclusions: This report marks the first documented case of an LDLR gene mutation that could be associated with the onset of CVST and DAVFs. The mutation in the LDLR gene might foster a prothrombotic environment, facilitating the gradual emergence of CVST and the subsequent genesis of DAVFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysfunction is implied as a crucial factor in age-related chronic kidney disease. It is confirmed that Gli-like transcription factor 1 (GLIS1) is involved in age-related renal fibrosis, however, the correlation between mitochondrial disturbances and GLIS1-driven kidney aging are not clearly clarified. Thus, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of GLIS1 in the homeostasis of mitochondrial quality control both in vivo and in vitro. The lower expression of GLIS1 was identified in natural and accelerated kidney aged models, accompanied by the dysfunctions of mitochondrial quality control, including enhanced mitochondrial fission, reduced mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, whereas, GLIS1 could maintain mitochondrial stability by interacting with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC1-α). Additionally, the over-expressed GLIS1 inhibited extracellular matrix accumulation and alleviated renal fibrosis while siGLIS1 inhibited PGC1-α transcription, as well as affecting its mitochondria-protective functions. Collectively, we demonstrated that GLIS1 mediated mitochondrial quality control through targeting PGC1-α in kidney aging, which might be a promising therapeutic target for attenuating cell senescence and age-related renal fibrosis. [Display omitted] • Mitochondrial homeostasis was impaired in kidney aging. • GLIS1 maintained the mitochondrial homeostasis by targeting PGC-1α in kidney aging. • PGC-1α functionally maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) has great potential in securing wireless transmission, and it can flexibly change the wireless communication environment. However, the employment of RIS increases the difficulty in beamforming of base station (BS), and existing schemes cannot be directly utilized to enhance the security of system. Therefore, a reinforcement learning framework to jointly control BS and RIS for the purpose of enhancing the secure performance is proposed. Specifically, the beamforming ia transformed with artificial noise and reflection control as a Markov decision problem (MDP) in complex domain. Then, we develop the deep deterministic policy gradient based on complex‐valued neural networks (CV‐DDPG) to imitate the rules of complex computation. Additionally, the CV‐DDPG is performed as the agent of reinforcement learning to control the BS and RIS, which enables better utilization of the implied phase information of complex values in the system. The simulation results show that the proposed model promotes the performance of the control and greatly improves the secrecy rate of the legitimate user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus coagulans is a probiotic agent widely used in various industries. In this study, we isolated a novel strain of B. coagulans, X26, from soil and characterized its properties. X26 exhibited superior enzyme, acid, and biomass yields when compared with other bacterial probiotics and an antibiotic. Moreover, X26 significantly improved the body weight of rats, highlighting its potential for industrial development as a supplement for animals. To optimize the fermentation process of this bacterium, we adopted the response surface design. When X26 was cultured in a medium with 16.5 g/L maltose, 25.00 g/L yeast extract, and 3.5 g/L K2HPO4, the optimal yield was predicted to be 5.1 × 109 CFU/mL. Consistent with the prediction, the yield of X26 in a 500-mL flask culture was (5.12 ± 0.01) × 109 CFU/mL, and in a 30-L fermenter was (5.11 ± 0.02) × 109 CFU/mL, accounting for a 9.9-fold higher field than that with a basal medium before optimization. We further optimized the fermentation process in the 30-L and a 10-T fermenter, generating yields of (7.8 ± 0.2) × 109 CFU/mL (spore rate: 96.54%) and (8.7 ± 0.1) × 109 CFU/mL (spore rate: 97.93%), respectively. These yields and spore rates were achieved at 45–55°C, the typical fermentation temperature of B. coagulans. Our findings indicate that B. coagulans X26 is a promising probiotic with considerable potential for cost-effective industrial fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) were reported to participate in insecticide resistance by metabolic and antioxidant activities. In our previous study, an ε class gene of GSTs, SlGSTe8 in Spodoptera litura, was screened out to be upregulated in a population resistant to pyrethroids and organophosphates. SlGSTe8 was highly expressed in the larvae stage, and the digestive tissue, foregut, midgut and hindgut, while the relative expression level was low in the pupae stage and other tissues. To further explore its role in the resistance to pyrethroids and organophosphates, the metabolic activity to insecticides by its recombinant protein was determined by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography, and its antioxidant enzyme activity was evaluated by disc diffusion assay. The recombinant protein showed significant metabolic activity to phoxim and chlorpyrifos, but not to fenvalerate, cyhalothrin or β‐cypermethrin. After incubation, the depletion rate of chlorpyrifos is 85.3%, higher than that of phoxim (17.5%). Also, the inhibition zone around filter discs decreased significantly after exposure to cumene hydroperoxide in recombinant plasmid than vector only, suggesting significant antioxidant activity of SlGSTE8. Further modelling and docking analysis indicated that the 3D structure of SlGSTE8 was well shaped for phoxim and chlorpyrifos, with the binding energy −5.58 and −5.15 kcal/mol, respectively. Our work provides evidence that SlGSTe8 in S. litura plays important roles in phoxim and chlorpyrifos resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Starch accounts for up to 90% of the dry weight of rice endosperm and is a key determinant of grain quality. Although starch biosynthesis enzymes have been comprehensively studied, transcriptional regulation of starch‐synthesis enzyme‐coding genes (SECGs) is largely unknown. In this study, we explored the role of a NAC transcription factor, OsNAC24, in regulating starch biosynthesis in rice. OsNAC24 is highly expressed in developing endosperm. The endosperm of osnac24 mutants is normal in appearance as is starch granule morphology, while total starch content, amylose content, chain length distribution of amylopectin and the physicochemical properties of the starch are changed. In addition, the expression of several SECGs was altered in osnac24 mutant plants. OsNAC24 is a transcriptional activator that targets the promoters of six SECGs; OsGBSSI, OsSBEI, OsAGPS2, OsSSI, OsSSIIIa and OsSSIVb. Since both the mRNA and protein abundances of OsGBSSI and OsSBEI were decreased in the mutants, OsNAC24 functions to regulate starch synthesis mainly through OsGBSSI and OsSBEI. Furthermore, OsNAC24 binds to the newly identified motifs TTGACAA, AGAAGA and ACAAGA as well as the core NAC‐binding motif CACG. Another NAC family member, OsNAP, interacts with OsNAC24 and coactivates target gene expression. Loss‐of‐function of OsNAP led to altered expression in all tested SECGs and reduced the starch content. These results demonstrate that the OsNAC24‐OsNAP complex plays key roles in fine‐tuning starch synthesis in rice endosperm and further suggest that manipulating the OsNAC24‐OsNAP complex regulatory network could be a potential strategy for breeding rice cultivars with improved cooking and eating quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore wind power has tremendous promise. Transmission of offshore wind power is more expensive and more challenging than that of onshore wind power. Therefore, choosing a cost-effective ands efficient wind power transmission system is essential for planning offshore wind farms. In this work, primary economic and technical factors are comprehensively considered while analyzing high-voltage alternating current and voltage source converter-based high-voltage direct current systems, which are in use primarily, and the multi-criteria decision-making technique is applied to choose the optimum system. Firstly, a selection index system is established through analyzing economic and technical indicators for systems. Secondly, based on the above analysis, the improved analytic hierarchy process method and the criteria importance through intercriteria correlation method are employed for decision-making. They calculated the subjective weights and objective weights, respectively, and then, the above weights were fused by ideal solution, yielding comprehensive decision weights. This can reduce the arbitrariness of subjective scoring and solve the problem that objective scoring does not pay attention to the actual relationship between indicators. Finally, the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method is used to determine the optimal selection of offshore wind power transmission systems at different offshore distances. The selection results show that the proposed method can effectively realize the power transmission system selection of an offshore wind farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Gut dysbiosis appears rapidly after acute stroke and may affect the prognosis, whereas changes in gut microbiota with gradual recovery from stroke are unknown and rarely studied. The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics of gut microbiota changes over time after stroke. Methods: Stroke patients and healthy subjects were selected to compare the clinical data and gut microbiota of the patient group in two phases with that of healthy subjects and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to search the differences of gut microbiota in subjects. Results: Compared with the healthy subjects, the subacute patients mainly decreased the abundance of some gut microbial communities, while the decreased communities reduced and more communities increased the abundance in the convalescent patients. The abundance of Lactobacillaceae increased in both phases in patient group, while Butyricimona, Peptostreptococaceae and Romboutsia decreased in both phases. Correlation analysis found that the MMSE scores of patients in the two phases had the greatest correlation with the gut microbiota. Conclusion: Gut dysbiosis still existed in patients in the subacute phase and convalescent phase, and gradually improved with the recovery of stroke. Gut microbiota may affect the prognosis of stroke by affecting BMI and/or related indicators, and there is a strong correlation between gut microbiota and cognitive function after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short pulse initial datum is referred to the one supported in the ball of radius δ and with amplitude δ 1 2 which looks like a pulse. It was first introduced by Christodoulou to prove the formation of black holes for Einstein equations and also to catch the shock formation for compressible Euler equations. The aim of this article is to consider the same type initial data, which allow the density of the fluid to have large amplitude δ - α γ with δ ∈ (0 , 1 ] , for the compressible Navier–Stokes equations. We prove existence and uniqueness of global strong solutions. Moreover, we show that the initial bump region of the density with large amplitude will disappear within a very short time. As a consequence, we obtain the global dynamic behavior of the solutions and the boundedness of ‖ ∇ u ‖ L 1 ([ 0 , ∞) ; L ∞) . The key ingredients of the proof lie in the new observations for the effective viscous flux and new decay estimates for the density via the Lagrangian coordinate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A meta-analysis has compared the pregnancy outcomes between women with and without RA, while the effect of disease severity on pregnancy outcomes within women with RA has not been explored. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between disease activity of RA and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Four English databases (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], VIP, and Wan Fang) was searched for eligible studies up to August 13, 2023. Cochran's Q test and the I2 statistic were used to assess the heterogeneity of the included studies. The odds ratio (OR) (for counting data) and weighted mean difference (WMD) (for measurement data) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) using random-effect model (I2 ≥ 50%) or fixed-effect model (I2 < 50%). Subgroup analysis based on study design and regions was used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was performed for all outcomes and the publication bias was assessed using Begg's test. Results: A total of 41 eligible articles were finally included. RA women had higher odds to suffer from preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, spontaneous abortion, and cesarean delivery (all P < 0.05). The infants born from RA mother showed the higher risk of stillbirth, SGA, LBW, congenital abnormalities, diabetes type 1, and asthma (all P < 0.05). The high disease activity of RA was significantly associated with the higher risk of cesarean delivery (OR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.02–5.15) and premature delivery (OR: 5.61, 95%CI: 2.20–14.30). Conclusions: High disease activity of RA was associated with the high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggesting that it was important to control disease for RA women with high disease activity who prepared for pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Sinolachnus species from China, Sinolachnus rubusis Qiao & Li, sp. nov. feeding on Rubus sp. from Shaanxi and Sichuan Provinces, and Sinolachnus yunnanensis Qiao & Li, sp. nov. feeding on Elaeagnus sp. from Yunnan Province, are described and illustrated. Keys to Sinolachnus species distributed in China are presented. All examined specimens are deposited in the National Zoological Museum of China, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary intramedullary spinal cord lymphoma (PISCL) is rare and easily misdiagnosed with the lack of typical clinical features and non-specific imaging manifestations. Case presentation: A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of persistent limbs numbness, pinprick-like pain in the posterior neck and unsteady gaits. He has brisk tendon reflexes and positive Babinski's sign. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine showed an abnormal signal with aberrant reinforcement at medulla oblongata and the level of C1-C7. He was clinically diagnosed as longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (antibody-negative). Steroid pulse therapy was administered and resulted in reduced symptoms. One month later, his situation was exacerbated compared to the onset. We launched a new cascade of steroid pulse therapy. But it did not improve his symptoms. Finally, the biopsy pathology confirmed PISCL. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and zanubrutinib were administered and until now about 3 years into treatment the patient is still survival. Conclusions: Based on our case and literature review, we recommend that spinal onset patients react ineffectively to standard immunoglobulins or hormonal treatments or experience a relapse after a short time relief should take PISCL into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]